So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Mark 6:30-44
Imagine the reaction of the disciples. They had more than five thousand hungry people seated in front of them, and Jesus was thanking God for five loaves of bread and two fish. This meager amount of food wouldn't even feed the twelve of them! Yet, in gratitude, Jesus praised God for what they had, handed it to the disciples, and told them to begin.
The problems of the world are overwhelming. There is hunger, disease, war, loneliness, hostility and spiritual hunger. As disciples, how do we respond to all the need? This passage tells us that we take stock of our resources and thank God for them. Then we go out into the world with what we have and begin the work of God.
When we measure what we have against the world's need, it can seem foolish to even try. But instead of disparaging the tiny meal, Jesus asked God to bless it. As we labor for God, we should continually ask for God's blessings on our resources, our talents, our abilities, and our coworkers. When we call God into our labors, we have the greatest power in the cosmos behind even the most meager beginnings.
Prayer: O Lord, bless my resources, however small, and give me the courage to begin using them in Your service. Show me where You are at work and enable me to join You. Help me to be open and listening to each word of guidance from Your Holy Spirit. Thank You in advance for all You are going to do through me. In Your name I pray, Amen.
** Devotion taken from The Sanctuary for Lent 2016 by Sue Mink
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